What to plant in your garden this October

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Spring's in full swing this month, making it a great time to catch up on all those odd gardening jobs you've been avoiding during winter. Here's what to plant in your garden this October.

Get excited, because if your last frost has passed, there's so much you can be doing in the garden this month.

Summer vegetables

'Tis the season for yummy summer veggies! Get your tomatoes in the ground now and you'll soon be harvesting enough fruit to make an abundance of fresh summer salads, tarts and chutneys, right until the beginning of autumn.

Zucchini, eggplant, capsicum and chilli can also be planted in October, making delicious additions to lunches and dinners later in the summer.

Weeding

With the warmer weather comes a surge of growth, including some plants you'll be happy to see returning and others you may not be so thrilled about. It's best to get weeding out of the way as soon as you can, leaving room for the herbs, veggies and flowers you'd rather have occupying the space in your garden.

Herbs

Basil (to accompany your tomato salads!), parsley, oregano and mint can all be planted this month. It's best to keep mint in a pot, as it can takeover herb gardens.

If you're in a warm to temperature area of Australia, lemongrass can also go into your patch now. This herb makes for a delicious addition to Asian dishes or calming herbal teas.

Vines

Jasmine vines will begin flowering in spring, giving off their incredible, heady scent. Before they do so, it's a good idea to fertilise them just before new growth appears. If they're young plants, be sure to train them as they grow using plant ties or weaving them through trellises.

October is also a great time to plant fruit vines: try passionfruit and grapes for their bounty of produce and their beautiful ornamental appearance.